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Other Conservation Initiatives:
A)
The Canada / Mexico / United States Trilateral Committee
for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management
The
Canada
/ Mexico / United States Trilateral Committee for Wildlife
and Ecosystem Conservation and Management consists
of the Director General of the Canadian
Wildlife Service, the Chief of the Secretaria de
Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or the Ministry
of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries of Mexico,
and the Director of the US
Fish and Wildlife Service, who heads the U.S. Delegation.
Established to increase the effectiveness of species
and habitat conservation in North America, the committee
holds annual meetings at which major North American
conservation issues are discussed. Through the creation
and implementation of programs and projects, the Trilateral
Committee coordinates species and ecosystem conservation
activities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The programs focus on scientific research, sustainable
land use practices, law enforcement and other conservation
tactics.
Among
the international organizations involved in the Trilateral
Committee efforts is the USDA
Forest Service International Programs, which is
part of the U.S. delegation and serves as a primary
cooperator and partner in implementing cooperative projects
in Canada and Mexico.
Collaborating
Organizations:
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B)
North American Bird Conservation Initiative
Human
activity is altering the habitat, including the nesting
grounds, of many migratory birds in North America-so
much that some are highly imperiled. To stop this downward
spiral, we must protect the ecosystems they depend on
throughout their entire migratory range. Since numerous
species are shared by Canada, the United States, and
Mexico, only collaborative conservation efforts among
these countries can sustain these special species.
The
vision of the North
American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) is
landscape-oriented, regionally base, biologically driven
integrated all bird conservation. The goal is to coordinate
bird conservation strategies throughout North America
by organizing the international efforts of the four
main bird plans:
International
support of NABCI will generate more resources, financial
as well as human, to conserve North American migratory
bird habitats, than would be possible from one country
alone. By promoting international cooperation, the involved
countries of NABCI are able to work more efficiently
and effectively to protect the birds and their habitats.
The
USDA Forest Service International
Programs co-chairs the Federal Sub-Committee and
represents the USDA
Forest Service and other Federal Agencies on the
US North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee.
Collaborating
Organizations:
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C) Copper River International Migratory
Bird Initiative
The
Copper River Delta on Chugach National Forest is the
largest Pacific coastal wetland in North America. It
is one of the most important migratory bird habitats
on the Continent. Over five million shorebirds stopover
on the Delta each year on their migration to Mexico,
Central and South America. The Delta is designated a
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Hemispheric
site - the most important shorebird sites in the world.
The
Initiative connects partners and shorebird sites in
the Americas to protect and enhance shorebird habitats
and sustain shorebird populations. Partners include
the:
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D)
Taking Wing
The
Forest Service has expanded its Taking Wing migratory
bird conservation program to help emphasize implementation
of all four North American migratory bird plans as well
as include all four divisions of the Forest Service:
National Forest System, State and Private Forestry,
other national programs? And Research and Development.
Forest Service personnel expertise is now focused more
on collaborative conservation of migratory birds at
home but also in other nations. Personnel provide key
skills and experience in other countries that are strengthening
their bird conservation and multiple use management.
The new Taking Wing will address all the needs of bird
species by focusing on conservation priorities throughout
the bird ranges and across property and international
boundaries.
Partners
include:
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E)
Western Boreal Forest Initiative
Covering nearly two thirds of Canada, the Boreal
Forest with its millions of acres of forested wetlands
is home to billions of migratory birds, including twenty-three
species of ducks. The Boreal Forest is the source of
as many as five billion landbirds, with more than one
half of the world's populations of over 40 species.
Up to 40% of North America's waterfowl use the part
of the Boreal forest alone. Currently, the Boreal Forest
in Western Canada is being gradually altered by natural
resource extraction, agricultural growth, and other
activities. In response to this increased activity,
Ducks
Unlimited Canada created the Western
Boreal Forest Initiative to investigate the effects
of such human activity on the forest, its wetlands and
the migratory birds it supports.
Through
the Western
Boreal Forest Initiative, scientists are learning
more about this vast ecosystem and its ecology. Specifically,
scientists are studying wetland ecology, wetland resources
and particularly migratory bird needs of the area. Finally,
scientists want to obtain a clearer sense of how human
activity in the area is affecting the wetlands-especially
the migratory birds they support. With greater understanding
of how human activity is affecting the migratory bird
habitats, more effective actions can be taken towards
the conservation of the birds. The goal is to determine
how the biodiversity and productivity of the region
including migratory birds can be sustained and protected
while land-use practices continue.
The
USDA Forest Service International
Programs is one of the primary partners in this
Western
Boreal Forest Initiative.
Collaborating
Organizations:
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